24Model-based comparative analysis of two catastrophic hazardous chemical pipeline accidents

ABSTRACT

Objectives. This study conducted a comparative analysis of two catastrophic pipeline accidents in China in order to identify some common mistakes and lessons learned to prevent similar accidents. Methods. The 24Model was used in this study, which provides a universal pathway for accident analysis from the individual level to the organizational level. Results. There were similarities between the two cases in the aspects of the occurrence, development, emergency and causation at different levels: both were caused by leaks of pipelines and evolved into multiple explosions during emergency response; both leaks were caused by the corrosion of pipelines in the confined space of a damp or salt-spray environment; both were classified as ‘responsibility accidents’, and unsafe acts, such as the failure to identify hidden hazards of pipelines that were the direct cause of accidents, reflected the shortcomings of individual safety habitual behaviour in terms of knowledge, awareness, habits and psychology; weaknesses in the organizational management mainly concerned hazard identification, pipeline maintenance, emergency disposal, etc.; and there is not a good safety climate within the organization. Conclusions. Organizations should develop a closed-loop management system and strengthen the construction of safety culture, and the government should supervise the implementation of procedures.

KEYWORDS:

• accident analysis
• hazardous chemical
• pipeline transportation
• causation
• 24Model

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Shandong Provincial Natural Science Foundation project [Grant ZR2023QE060]; National Natural Science Foundation of China [Grant 52102412].